Among Zoroastrian burial items, there is a camel-shaped zoomorphic OSTADON lying there. It was found…
The house-museum of Frederick Stibbert, built in a picturesque corner of Florence in the 19th century, has become a true cultural heritage site. Opened in 1908, it has adhered to a strict collection policy from the very beginning. Stibbert, deeply passionate about history and art, focused his efforts on gathering items that reflected his interests—clothing, weapons, and armor. It is important to note that only objects created before his death in 1906 were accepted as gifts.
Influenced by his grandfather, who was the commander of the army of the East India Company in the 18th century, Stibbert developed a unique perspective on costume and its significance. Although the collection mainly consists of European exhibits, the museum is also renowned for its unique specimens of Eastern weapons and armor.
In 1981, the museum's collection was enriched with around forty items gathered by Senator Giulio Adamoli during his travels through Western Asia and the Middle East. These rare Uzbek and Kyrgyz costumes and accessories, acquired in Turkestan between 1869 and 1870, represent an important historical context as they were collected during the early period of the Russian Empire's conquest of the region.
Adamoli detailed his journeys between Tashkent and Samarkand, emphasizing cultural exchanges and meetings with local figures, including the famous artist Vasily Vasilyevich Vereshchagin. During his visit to the court of Khudayar Khan, Adamoli received as gifts robes embroidered with golden threads, which are now part of the unique collection at the Stibbert Museum.
This precious collection from Uzbekistan has been displayed multiple times at various exhibitions organized by the museum, each time generating immense interest and delight among viewers. The museum continues to be an important center for studying cultural heritage, where the histories of different peoples and eras intersect.You can learn more about the topic in the book-album "Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in Italian collections".
